New York City Ambulatory Surgery Center Fails at PHC Committee

A proposal by 14 physicians to start a new orthopedic ambulatory surgery center in Manhattan failed to win approval Tuesday at the Establishment Committee of the Public Health Council (PHC). HANYS was among those who turned out to oppose the center, which would compete with hospitals in the area, including Lenox Hill and NYU Langone Medical Center, both of which have recently made major investments in outpatient surgery.

During a contentious two-hour hearing on the proposed SurgiCare of Manhattan, LLC, the Committee considered the potential impact of the project on plans already underway by nearby hospitals. Those plans include Lenox Hill’s activities in carrying out the recommendations of the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century by taking over Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and converting the property to house its ambulatory surgery program. NYU is in the process of building a new $25 million ambulatory surgery center.

In written comments to the Committee, HANYS supported the objections of the hospitals, noting that the project “could have a destabilizing effect on the balance of health care services provided in the area and the ability of the nearby hospitals to provide the full array of services in the community, including emergency and maternity care. These local institutions, already being reconfigured to better meet the community’s needs, have longstanding records of providing excellent care and educational outreach in the area.”

The project will go forward to the full PHC for consideration at its March 13 meeting. Contact: Karen Roach